Camp Challenge

The North Carolina Bankers Association Foundation’s Camp Challenge is a week-long summer camp experience for high-achieving, low-resource students from across North Carolina. This remarkable program began in 1993. Each year, hundreds students attend Camp Challenge at no cost to their families, thanks to donations from our many generous partners. Camp Challenge is located at Y Camp Weaver in Greensboro, North Carolina. For more information about Camp Weaver, visit www.campweaver.org.

While at Camp, students participate in a variety of activities including archery, ropes courses, skateboarding, digital media, cooking, the BLOB, block parties, and more! Camp Challenge campers also participate in an engaging personal finance course, which includes interactive activities and discussion on topics relevant to middle school students, such as automobile purchases, entrepreneurship, income and careers, and even financing education!

Camp Challenge is open to boys and girls entering the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. All interested students must submit a completed application packet. Many campers apply to Camp Challenge through their local Communities in Schools affiliates, Boys & Girls Clubs, or other community organizations. However, you may obtain an application packet for open registration weeks by contacting Blaine Wiles at 800-662-7044 or blaine@ncbankers.org.

The NCBA Foundation is committed to promoting financial literacy throughout North Carolina. Improved financial education leads to improved citizens, improved communities, and, ultimately, improved economies. Camp Challenge provides an opportunity for young citizens to begin learning about personal finance and their roles in local and global economies. The financial literacy course encourages students to engage in dialogue about finance with their peers as well as with their families after leaving Camp Challenge. This program is having a true impact in North Carolina by facilitating early communication within families and among children.

The NCBA Foundation relies on support from banks, non-profit organizations, and friends of the camp for funding. Camp Challenge is a tremendous example of the impact the business community can have by reinvesting in local communities. Armed with financial education, campers go on to become successful students and citizens. By supporting Camp Challenge, donors contribute to the success of their communities and to the success of North Carolina.

The start of Camp Challenge 2018 will soon be upon us, and we are excited to get the ball rolling this summer! If you are looking to help, here are a few ways you can get involved with Camp Challenge.

DONATE: The cost to sponsor one student to attend Camp Challenge for an entire week is $700, although truly any amount given helps tremendously. This year, we had nearly 400 applications come in from all over the state, and we remain hopeful that we will be able to accept as many of those deserving students as possible. Please consider supporting a middle school student in this experience that they otherwise wouldn’t be given the opportunity to have.

VOLUNTEER: Beginning on Monday, June 11, and running for eight consecutive weeks, we will be looking for volunteers to help teach in our engaging personal finance course at Camp Challenge. Classes last from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. each day (Monday – Friday). Volunteers are invited to stay and eat lunch with the campers immediately after classes at 12:30 p.m., and are more than welcome to participate in any of the traditional summer camp activities during the afternoon.

HOLD A DONATION DRIVE: We are always looking for more items to bring in to the Camp Store, such as calculators, water bottles, journals, backpacks, etc. Additionally, each summer we are faced with a number of students who show up without some of the essentials needed for the week. The most common items missing are deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes. If your bank is willing to hold a donation drive to bring in any of these prizes and/or toiletries, that would be a tremendous help.

For more information on any of the ways you can support Camp Challenge, please contact us at (919) 781-7979.